CHARLESTON, Ill. – Behind junior Ashley Slay’s 15-kill performance, Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team posted a three-set Ohio Valley Conference sweep (28-26, 27-25, 25-15) against Eastern Illinois, Friday night, at Lantz Arena.
The first two sets were defined by each team posting impressive come-from-behind efforts. In the opening frame, Austin Peay (13-7, 4-1 OVC) raced out to a 12-5 lead but could not hold the advantage. The Panthers slowly reeled the Govs back in and fended off three set points to tie the set 24-24. Eastern Illinois would get a pair of set point chances, but could not convert and an EIU error ended the set, 28-26.
Eastern Illinois (4-16, 1-4 OVC) tried to flip the script in the second set, building a 19-14 lead to force an Austin Peay timeout. The Govs responded with a 6-0 run –the Panthers using both their timeouts to try and stop the run – to take a 20-19 lead. The Panthers again had to fend off three APSU set points to tie the set, 24-24, but the Govs didn’t allow EIU to take a lead. Slay hammered home back-to-back kills to end the set.
Slay left little doubt about the outcome in the third set, posting a kill on three of the first six points as Austin Peay broke out to a 5-1 lead. The match like turned when Eastern Illinois’ Taylor Smith – its offensive leader – was lost to injury with the Govs leading 6-3. Austin Peay broke the set open with a 8-1 run and never looked back.
Slay led a potent one-two offensive punch with sophomore Cecily Gable, who finished with 12 kills. The duo combined for 27 of the Govs 46 kills in the contest. However, the Govs also had a stellar night at the service line, posting 11 aces. Senior Sammie Ebright led that effort with five aces.
Smith finished with six kills, a .500 attack percentage, 18 assists and three blocks prior to her injury. Josie Winner and Maria Brown each added a team-leading eight kills.
Austin Peay continues its Illinois trip when it meets OVC-leading SIUE in a 2 p.m., Saturday contest.